International Holodomor Awareness Week November 16-23
Ukraine Remembers -- The World Acknowledges!
On the 75th anniversary of the Famine Genocide in Ukraine 1932-33

November 3, 2008 -- Seventy five years have passed since famine raged through Ukraine eradicating the lives of millions of children, women and men from one of the world's most bountiful lands.

Holodomor -- one of the most heinous crimes in the history of mankind -- was the result of a deliberate political strategy masterminded by Stalin and his totalitarian communist regime. By sheer magnitude, losses during the Holodomor surpassed those of the Ukrainian nation during the Second World War. Ukrainians worldwide continue to suffer the consequences of this merciless act.

The International Coordinating Committee, Ukrainian World Congress is launching the first International Holodomor Awareness Week on November 16-23. The goal is to annually unite Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians alike in remembering the victims and raising awareness of this tragedy.

In cooperation with the secretariat of the President of Ukraine, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, the International Coordinating Committee developed initiatives dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-33 guided by the motto "Ukraine remembers -- the World Acknowledges."

Throughout the year Ukrainians successfully engaged politicians, researchers, journalists and citizens in a discussion of this often-forgotten genocide. The International Remembrance Flame successfully toured 34 countries ending its journey in Ukraine beginning November 1. The Holodomor was recognized as an act of genocide by 13 countries. In Ukraine, the Security Service (SBU) opened its archives and published a list of perpetrators of this crime; a National Memorial Book will include a registry of Holodomor victims and testimonies of survivors; a memorial complex and museum is being erected in the capital city of Kyiv.

There is, however, a great deal of work still to be done. We must continue working with our ministries of education to ensure that all students learn about the Holodomor. We have a moral obligation to ensure that the personal stories of our survivors are documented and preserved for future generations. Internationally, the United Nations must recognize the Holodomor as an act of genocide.

Let us remember together:

• On Saturday, November 22 (or in days around this date), in solidarity with Ukraine, honour the memory of the victims with a moment of silence and light a candle of remembrance in your home.
• Participate in memorial services which will take place in your local churches.
• Participate in events organized by your local community.

This is the bare minimum which we, as Ukrainians, should do not only for the millions of victims, but more importantly, for our descendants who must always remember the Holodomor and heighten the international community's sensitivity to the reoccurrence of similar tragedies.

Let's reveal the truth about the Holodomor to the world!

On behalf of the International Holodomor Committee Ukrainian World Congress

Stefan Romaniw
Chairman

Irka Mycak
Secretary